1 September 2014

Look in a box!

I was recently at Gatwick airport, having a little browse at the duty free make up, and came across these Mac look in a box kits. I've never seen these little kits before, and got super excited!
The box includes a lipstick, lipgloss, eye liners and eye shadows, such a brilliant idea to have everything you need in one box - and a steel at £30!
I haven't seen these anywhere else, but am desparate to get my hands on that other set they had, does anyone know where else stocks them? Or is it just Duty Free? 

25 August 2014

It's been a while...

It's been quite apparent that I have taken a very long break from blogging, this has been because of a few reasons...
Firstly, and most importantly, I become a Mrs recently, I absolutely loved organising our wedding, and spent a lot of time writing lists, making sure all the small details were just perfect and hand making a lot of the decorations. This took a lot of my time up, which if course I didn't mind at all, I loved it! And it resulted in the most perfect day ever... EVER!!!
Secondly, I started a new job this year, so a lot of my time has fine into focusing in that. 
And thirdly... I have really tried to cut down on my beauty collection, it become a little out of control, and I found myself purely purchasing items to review because that was the lastest product on the market, and that was not healthy!! 

So I'm planning on starting afresh, I'm not sure what direction my blog will take, but I have set myself a few ground rules and I intend to follow...
Number 1 - relax, I have always been very nervous about posting on my blog, I worried that if I don't post every few days my blog will become boring, but in actual fact, this results in crappy posts!
Number 2 - be a little more opening minded with posts, previously my posts have always been about beauty, but since our wedding, and recently buying a house, I feel like my blog will take a slightly different direction. 
And number 3 - have fun with it! I want to enjoy blogging again, which is why I started in the first place :)

So let's see how this goes... And see you soon with my next post! 

Kristie x
13 February 2014

Vaseline Spray & Go - aloe fresh

I know I'm a little bit late with this product, its been a round for a while, but to be honest I actually thought it was going to be a bit of a gimmick and wouldn't be worth the hype - but apparently I was wrong. I watched a few beauty youtubers rave about this so I thought I would give it a go.

I have heard this product labelled as the lazy-girls way of moisturising, I am actually pretty good and moisturising, I hate having dry skin so I do always find the time to treat my skin, however it is always a bore and takes forever - this is a clever little product that makes moisturising a little bit more exciting.

Its super easy to use, okay so its not quite spray and go, there is a bit of rubbing involved, but still a lot quicker than squeezing out of tube tube getting it all over the place! What I really like about this product is it drys really quickly, you aren't left with a sticky tacky feeling that you can get with a lot of other moisturisers.

I went for the aloe fresh option, it has a lovely fresh feeling and smells great, I'm really enjoying using this product and would repurchase it again, its not going to instantly transform your skin, but once its in a good state its a great way of quickly keep it up, I think this will come in very handy in the summer - Its currently on offer in Boots at the moment for £3,99.
12 February 2014

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation - Mont Blanc

Since I have been coming to the end of my beloved Clinique Superbalanced foundation, I have been searching for something to replace it, I fancied a little change since I have been using Clinique since I was 16! I had read a lot of great reviews for the NARS Sheer Glow, but the name instantly put me off, Sheer is the last thing I look for in a foundation, I like to have a good matte coverage that is buildable - it was only after reading Kayleighs from Couture Girl, that I decided to give it a go.

Firstly lets get the obviously negatives out of the way. Price - £31, enough said.... and secondly, it doesn't come with a pump, I know this is an issue for a lot of people as thats an extra £3, but I seem to manage fine with a pump, my Clinique one didn't have a pump either, so I'm used to working with this problem.

Now for the great bits - this foundation is fricking amazing!!!! I cant believe it has taken me so long to try it out, the packaging is great, sleek and simple. The product applies easily and is flawless on the skin. This finish isn't what I would call completely matte, but its so buildable it really have great coverage. It buffs into the skins so effortlessly and doesn't look cakey, this is a massive thumbs up from me, as I often end up looking cakey around the nose and forehead.

It also works really well with powder on the top, it doesn't just sit on top, neither does it slip away, it somehow works with it and holds it in place for the whole day. I seem to use a fairly small amount, so it does go a long way,  but I know this is going to be a product that I can't live without, which is slightly concerning because of the high price tag - maybe I shouldn't wear it every day to make it last longer!

Overall its a big thumbs up from me, I'm really happy with this purchase and would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a good coverage, buildable matte-ish coverage foundation! 
11 February 2014

NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Laguna seems to be the most talked about bronzer out there at the moment, every bloggers seems to have this bronzer and its very clear to see why. The packaging is typically NARS its a sleek black design that's easy to use, you get a lot of product for your money, and because the product is so pigmented it lasts for ever!

The colour of this bronzer may scare some people because it looks quite dark. However, when it’s applied the colour is just perfect. Perfect pigmentation, easy blendable, no orange in sight. It is not totally matte, it has a little golden shimmer in it which is not seen when applied, so you can totally use that for contouring too. I really like that this product is so versatile.

I apply my with my Real Techniques contour brush, taking it to the hollows of my cheeks, around my temples and under my jaw line, its also great just to swirl over your face for an overall golden glow.

I actually cant remember the exact price, but believe its around the £25-27 mark, which of course is a lot of money for a bronzer, but as I said before this product lasts so its great value. I would absolutely repurchase this product, its definitely one of my favourites in my make up collection.
9 February 2014

Aesop Parsley Seed Deep Cleansing Mask

Aesop is a fantastic skin, hair and body brand, until recently I didn't know much about the brand or its products, but after visiting one of their ultra modern store in Angel, I have now built up quite a collection, and by far my favourite product is the Parsley Seed cleansing mask.

It's a clay based mask but is different to all others that I've tried in that it feels so lightweight on the skin and doesn't dry it out. I like to use it on my t-zone to balance out any excess oil, or to keep blackheads at bay on the sides of my nose. It does a great job at unclogging pores to reveal a fresher complexion too and is really nice to apply before bedtime due to the lavender aroma. It feels very gentle and a little goes a long way, it's definitely a great product to have in your cupboard for when your skin is feeling out of balance.

The only thing that's difficult to swallow is the price, £27 for a face mask is a lot, but in my opinion its absolutely worth it - its a must have product in my skin care routine, its a treat to use twice a week to completely detox my skin.
7 February 2014

Real Techniques Retractable Bronzer Brushe

Well I know I'm certainly not alone when I say I'm a huge fan of Real Technique brushes and the Pixiwoo sisters, they are so affordable and such great brushes, please check out their website for great tutorials and more information on the full Real Technique range.

I'm not sure when the latest retractable brushes launched, but I have only just started to see them in my locals Boots stores. One of the only things about carrying your brushes around in your make-up bag is that they can get squashed in transit, so this little nifty brush is great for those squashing issues!
This bronzing brush picks up just the right amount of product to sweep over the face, its a huge brush which is really useful for bronzer, but I have also been using this brush for applying a covering of face powder - its fire without being hard, but the bristles are very soft. Because it is retractable, you can load the brush up with product and fold it away, ready to use later on when you need a top-up.

Im really excited to try the other brushes with the feature too, I know they will become and travel must. If your looking to add a brush to your collection, please pick this up, its a really handy little gadget and applys any powder base product with ease.
 


6 February 2014

HD Brow Palette - Foxy

I recently purchased the HD Browns palette in the Foxy shades and it has changed my life - maybe a little dramatic, but its certainly changed my brows. I have my eyebrows done every 5-6 weeks by an HD Brow technician, she is fantastic, she said I should start using the HD palette to make the most of my brows, and I love it.

Before the HD palette I was using a mix of products, including the MUA eyebrow palette and the eyelure palette, I really enjoyed using both, but I always struggled with matching the colour, I would spent quite a while blending colours together. The Foxy HD palette is the perfect shade for my brows, no more mixing.

Each palette contains 4 anti-smudge pressed powders which are matte and very easy to blend, the formula's are very pigmented and glide on your brows very easily. The powders aren't too powdery, meaning it doesn't fall all over your face.

This is a great palette to pop in your bag and be confident you have all you need to transform your eyes, made easy with a mini angled and flat brush and a large mirror that comes in the palette. You can also use the colours as eye shadows, although I haven't tried them yet.

I would really recommend this product for anyone looking for a great eyebrow palette, there are a lot of them out on the market, but in my opinion, why waste your time and money when this palette will do the job far better!

4 February 2014

MAC lipstick - Politely Pink

I have a terrible habit of buying new lipsticks, getting them home and forgetting about them. I fall in love with them in the store, get home and lose interest - maybe a sign I should just stop buying them! However, it then does lead to a lovely surprise when I rediscover them floating around in my make-up draws, begging to be opened and used!

Well this is exactly what happened with my MAC Politely Pink lipstick, I actually bought this a while back when I went to Paris, I did use it while I was away, but as soon I got back it when straight into the hidden depths of my make-up collection, and I have no idea why because I LOVE this lipstick.

This colour is gorgeous, is like a dirty pink, very pretty. Its a lustre finish, which isn't my favourite finish on MAC lipsticks, but with a clear gloss over the top, the colour shines though and looks beautiful. its a great every day colour, very sophisticated and pretty.

A welcomed addition to my collection - I'm pleased I found it.




3 February 2014

Tanya Burr - Lipglosses


I'm sure there isn't one beauty lover who hasn't heard of the great Tanya Burr, so when it was announced that the beauty guru was bringing out her own rage, hysteria too place amongst beauty lovers - me being on of these who go way too over excited. As soon as the products were released on feel Unique, I made my order and waited patiently.

I order two of these highly anticipated lip glosses in the shades Chic and Smile, Dream, Sparkle. Firstly, the packaging, The actual packaging of the lip glosses is really sleek and neat, I lip the black lip and that you can actually see the product. I'm not too sure about the paper packaging the lip gloss comes in, I like a cute little boxed product - but that's just a personal thing.
I would describe Chic is a nudey peachy colour, its more of an opaque colour that has a really good pigment and is really creamy, I love this colour, its not like any other colour in my collection which I am really pleased with - I wish I had ordered more of these creamy shades, I think I would love them all.
Smile, Dream, Sparkle (Not sure about this name?!) Is a soft pink glitter that actually has hardly any colour, its more of a clear pinky gloss that you would wear over a lipstick that gives a lovely shimmer.

I am a big lip gloss lover, but the one thing I cant stand is sticky lips, I didn't find these products too sticky, even after I had worn them for a while, they wear really well! They also smell incredible, a really gorgeous sweet smell which makes wearing them even more enjoyable. Obviously I only received these today, so I need to give them a text out, I'm interested to see how they react to every girls bug-bear, hair + wind = sticky hairy lips.

Overall at this early stage its a huge thumbs up on the glosses, I love them and cant wait to try more. Tanya also released a collection of nail varnishes, but as I use Shellac I didn't order these, I would love to know what they are like though, the colours look stunning!



2 February 2014

L'Oreal True Match Foundation - Giorgio Armani Dupe Alert!


Its no secret that the Giorgio Armani luminous silk foundation is a beauty bloggers favourite, so many bbloggers rave about how great this foundation is, the only downside to the Giorgio Armani foundation is the shocking high price tag - £35.50 (Gulp!)

When I heard that there was a great dupe available in drug stores, I was all over it. L'Oreal True Match Foundation is meant to be a really similar product and I am really enjoying using it. Firstly the cost, this product is £9.99, L'Oreal actually had buy one get one half price, so my mum picked on up too.

The texture of this foundation is quite runny, compared to my Clinique foundation which is a little thicker. It blends really well with my Real Technique expert face brush and has a lovely silky finish without being too shiny or dewy - its a matte finish.

drug store foundations are normally very limited on colour range, but there seemed to be a lot of options for this product, I picked up N1 which is actually an almost perfect match for me. I really like the packaging for this product too, I really enjoy a pump on a foundation.

The coverage is pretty good too, it doesn't look too cakey at all, and its very buildable, by adding a little bit of powder over the top really gives you that little bit of extra coverage.

Although I haven't personally tried the Giorgio Armani, I have heard a lot of comparisons with these two products, I am really enjoying using this foundation and will continue to do so - I really do not feel the need to spend £35 on a product which is apprently very similar. 


1 February 2014

Benefit - The POREfessional Agent Zero Shine

Being a fan of the original Benefit Porefessional, I was excited to try the new release from the brand. There has been a lot of hype over this product, so I wanted to give it a good go before I gave my view.
I have been using this product for just over a month, and I'm sad to say - its a miss from me!

The overall idea for this product is to eliminate pores and shine, which is actually something I suffer with. I do really love the packaging, its a nifty little gadget. The lightweight tube has a detachable brush on one end, which I actually quite like, and a lid on the other that reveals a 'talc' like dispenser. To use the product you simply tap a small amount of powder into the lid, use the brush to pick up the product and then pop onto your face.

I suppose the reason I don't really like this product is the price - I have similar powders that cost around £5 that do exactly the same. Benefit is a higher end brand and this product cost around the £23 mark, which to me is super pricey. The only part of this product that I like is the packaging and the brush, not really a real reason to buy a product.

Its a shame I didn't love this, because I am really enjoy Benefit products at the moment, but this for me is an expensive option to go for if your looking for a loose powder to minimise pores and shine.

What did you think?
26 January 2014

KIKO Smart Lipstick - 919

Following on from my recent KIKO haul, another item I picked up was one of their smart lipsticks in shade 919. When I visit KIKO I always pick up one of their Ultra Glossy Stylo lipsticks because they are just amazing!! But I thought I would give one of these types a try.

Firstly let’s talk about price, this lipstick was £3.90... I know, an unbelievable price. On the KIKO site, the lipsticks are described as a rich nourishing lipstick with full colour and total comfort and I couldn’t agree more – the formula of this product is dreamy, I love it. The pigment is fab too, I picked up shade 919 which is a light baby pink, not the most pigmented colour, but the payoff is great – as good as MAC.  

Overall I cant fault this product, if you are looking for a lipstick, with a creamy formula, nourishing on your lips and at an unbeatable price – here is it!
 
23 January 2014

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow - 05


I absolutely in love KIKO at the moment, their lipsticks and eyeshsdow sticks to me can do no wrong! When recently at Westfield’s Stratford, I paid the store a little visit and was completely blow away by the eyeshadaw sticks, I had heard some great things and knew I wanted to give them a go myself, I picked up shade 05 which is a brown, similar to Clinique’s Sassy Fras. 

Firstly packaging, sleek and simple just how I like it - no major fuss, just completely focused on the product, the black reminds me a little of ELF packaging, which again I am a fan of. 

The product - WOW! talk about cream - I absolutely am smitten with this formula, it glides on so easily, you can blend and build really well with this product too. It looks eat smudged number the lower lash line, as well as a block colour on your lids. What I really love is the slight shimmer to the product, it’s not a matte colour at all.  

The price of this product is insane - £6.90. This is an absolute steel, I would compare this product to Clinique’s Chubby sticks and also Rimmels Scandaleyes eyeshadow paint – both great products, but for me the KIKO shadow stick beats them to the post

 

22 January 2014

L'Oreal Paris - Triple Active Day

Moisturiser is always something that I seem to struggle to find, I have combination skin and I find a lot of moisturisers way too heavy for my skin type leaving my skin feeling oily, with this in mind, I am always on the look out to find something that suits me perfectly. Since discovering Liz Earles moisturiser I have had difficulty finding anything that comes close, however the search continues.
I have been using the L'Oreal Paris triple active day cream for around 7 days and so far I am really enjoying using it, I find it isn't too greasy on my skin if my skin is having a dry day, however if my skin is feeling a little oily, I only apply a small amount. I really love how this product makes me skin feel after, its very refreshing and I really like the scent, its a nice clean smell. The cream its self is a light texture and have a UV filter which is really great - espeically for those days when your out and about!

The presentation of the cream is great - I like the box and I really like the heavy-duty jar, with its inner lid too. The whole aesthetic of this cream works for me, especially when it was so cheap. you can pick this cream up for around the £5 mark, affordable for most people, and seems to last a while - as I said, I have been using for just over a week and have about 4 - 5 weeks worth remaining.

Overall I am liking this product, Im not sure if its going to completely win me over and slove all my skin care problems, but so far so good!

1 January 2014

MAC Lustering Lipstick

I am always on the look out for a bright pink lipstick that is better than the last, I have a few firm favourites but am pleased to be adding this new little beauty to my collection.
What I love about the shade is the red undertone, as well as its lustre finish which is by far my favourite!
Its a build able shade which you can either wear as a sheer light option or a darker pink, for me this an everyday shade when worn sheer, but can be transformed into a dramatic evening shade with a few more layers - One of my favourite Mac lipsticks!